Dealing with Respiratory Diseases, Asthma, and Allergies

1. Dealing with Respiratory Diseases, Asthma, and Allergies

2. Objectives • Analyze the causes, symptoms, diagnoses, and treatments of communicable respiratory diseases. • Analyze ways to prevent infection with communicable respiratory diseases. • Discuss asthma and ways to prevent and manage asthma attacks. • Describe common causes of allergies. • Describe ways to prevent or treat allergies.

3. Why it’s important… • At some time, almost everyone will be infected by a respiratory illness. • Millions of people are affected by asthma or allergies

4. What to know about communicable respiratory diseases • Communicable disease • Can be spread from person to person. • 6 communicable diseases • The common cold • Influenza • Pneumonia • Strep Throat • Tuberculosis • Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome

5. Communicable respiratory diseases • The Common Cold • A respiratory infection caused by more than 100 different viruses. • 1/3 of all colds are caused by rhinoviruses. • A virus that infects the nose • High levels of stress can increase a person’s chances of catching a cold. • Can last from 2-14 days. • Myths • Being exposed to cold weather. • Getting chills

6. Communicable respiratory diseases • The Common Cold • Relief • OTC medication may help relieve some symptoms. • Will not cure or shorten the length of a cold. • Gargling with warm, salt water may bring relief to a sore throat. • Apply petroleum jelly to the nose to relieve irritation.

7. Communicable respiratory diseases • Influenza…The Flu • A highly contagious viral infection of the respiratory tract. • Most people recover within 1-2 weeks. • Can be life-threatening for elderly people, newborn babies, and people with chronic diseases. • Can lead to pneumonia • Flu viruses are constantly changing. • Difficult for the immune system to form antibodies to new variations of the flu virus. • Can spread rapidly in crowded places.

8. Communicable respiratory diseases • Influenza…The Flu • People who are infected with the flu virus often do not show any symptoms, yet they can still spread the virus. • Most contagious during first 3 days of infection. • Diagnosis • Physicians usually diagnose the flu by symptoms. • Presence of flu in community. • Flu tests

9. Communicable respiratory diseases • Influenza…The Flu • Treatments • Aspirin/Acetaminophen may relieve fever and discomfort. • Aspirin should not be given to children and teens. • Reye’s Syndrome-disease that causes swelling of the brain and deterioration of liver function. • Antibiotics are not effective against the flu viruses, but may prevent pneumonia…sometimes follows the flu. • Flu shots • Updated each year

10. Celebrity Swine Flu Fatality....... and we ALL know who gave it to him.

11. Communicable respiratory diseases • Pneumonia • An infection in the lungs caused by bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. • Bacterial and viral • Can be spread by direct contact with an infected person or with contaminated objects.

12. Communicable respiratory diseases • Pneumonia • Diagnosis • Lab tests • Chest X-rays • Physical examinations

13. Communicable respiratory diseases • Treatments • Antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia. • Viral bacteria is much more difficult to treat. • Resistant to antibiotics. • Hospitalization may be needed. • Vaccine is available for pneumococcal pneumonia. • Kills more people than all other vaccine-preventable diseases.

14. Communicable respiratory diseases • Strep Throat • A bacterial infection of the throat. • Rheumatic fever can develop if not treated quickly. • An autoimmune disease in the heart that can cause fever, weakness, and damage to heart valves.

15. Communicable respiratory diseases • Symptoms • Fever • Throat may be painful. • Throat will appear red. • Small patches of pus may be visible • Diagnosis • Throat culture.

16. Communicable respiratory diseases • Diagnosis • Throat Culture • Treatment • Antibiotics will kill bacteria and prevent spread of infection. • Rest • Fluids

17. Communicable respiratory diseases • Tuberculosis • A bacterial infection of the lungs. • Affects people with a weakened immune system. • HIV, elderly, homeless, IV drug users. • Airborne through coughing and sneezing by infected person. • Only contagious if you have “active” tuberculosis. • Not spread through touch.

18. Communicable respiratory diseases • Diagnosis • Skin test • Inject a protein substance under the skin in the forearm. • Within two days, if a red welt forms around the injection site, the person has been exposed to tuberculosis. • Chest X-ray must be done to confirm.

19. Communicable respiratory diseases • Treatment • Antibiotics • Some tuberculosis pathogens have become resistant to them. • Drugs are available to prevent tuberculosis in people who are in close contact with infected people. • Rooms with good ventilation and air flow will help reduce the risk of the spread of tuberculosis.

20. Communicable respiratory diseases • SARS-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome • A contagious respiratory illness caused by a new type of coronavirus. • Surfaced in early 2003 in some Asian countries. • Caused outbreaks in other countries, including the US.

21. Communicable respiratory diseases • Symptoms • Very typical for many other respiratory illnesses. • Fever • Cough • Shortness of breath • Diagnosis • Travel to specific Asian countries. • Close contact with a person infected with SARS. • SARS is now under control.

24. Communicable respiratory diseases • Asthma • A chronic disease that cannot be cured. • Symptoms • Coughing • Wheezing • Shortness of breath • People with asthma have sensitive lungs that react to certain triggers.

25. Communicable respiratory diseases • Triggers • Substances that cause the airways to tighten, swell, and fill with mucus. • Airways become narrow and blocked. • Difficult to breathe.

26. Communicable respiratory diseases • Triggers • Pollen from trees • Grasses • Weeds • Dust and mold • Dog, cat, or other animal dander • Cigarette smoke • Air pollution • Having a cold or the flu. • Aspirin or other OTC drugs • Perfumes or other fragrances • Odors from sprays and paints • Insecticides • Certain foods • Smoke from burning wood, paper, or other items • Emotional stress • Especially during childhood and adolescence.

27. Communicable respiratory diseases • Asthma Attack • Episode of coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and tightness in the chest. • May cause extreme sickness. • Hospitalization • Death • Symptoms usually decrease with age.

28. Communicable respiratory diseases • Exercise Induced Asthma • A condition in which a person has difficulty breathing during or shortly after strenuous physical activity. • Symptoms • Coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest. • Can be reduced and prevented by improving physical fitness.

29. Communicable respiratory diseases • Allergies • Airborne allergens • The most common are animal dander, feathers, pollens, and mites. • Symptoms of allergies • Dizziness • Nausea • Skin rash • Drops in blood pressure • Difficulty in breathing

30. Communicable respiratory diseases • Hay Fever • Common term for seasonal respiratory allergies that typically occur in the spring or fall. • Symptoms • Coughing • Sneezing • Inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes • Treatments • Medicine • shots

31. Communicable respiratory diseases • Allergies • Pollen-yellowish powder produced by flowers, trees, and grass. • Mites-tiny, eight-legged animals that resemble spiders. • Animal Dander-Flakes of dead skin from an animal.

32. Communicable respiratory diseases • Allergies • Not all allergies are airborne. • Medication • Latex • Insect stings • Foods • Symptoms • Difficulty breathing • Rapid pulse • Sudden drop in blood pressure • Skin rash • Respiratory irritation • shock

33. Communicable respiratory diseases • Diagnosis • Skin tests • Skin patch test • Wheal-a round skin lump that indicates sensitivity to a particular allergen.